Apparatus for treating refuse



Sept. 24, l1929. F c EVA APPARATUS FOR TREATING REFUSE Filed Sept. 29, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l /NVENTQ w su Sept. 24, 1929. F, C, EVANS 1,729,572

APPARATUS Fox TREATING REFUSE Filed sept? 29. 1928 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Sept. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR TREATING REFUSE Application filed. September 29, 1923, Serial No. 309,269. and in Great Britain April 13, 1928.

This invent-ion relates to the treat-ment of refuse such as house refuse which contains al large percentage or" material that can be burnt, and it has for its primary object the provision of simple and reliable apparatus capable ot' eliiciently dealing with large quantities of material and without the necessity, unless so desired, of any sorting, it being possible for instance to discharge the refuse diiectly from vehicles into the apparatus.

One feat-ure of the invention consists in the provision of a trough system adapted to be closed at the top and communicating with a flue, into the troughs of which system the material can be shot and burnt, air for supporting combustion being introduced to a space beneath grates through downwardly extending side ducts.

Another feature consists in arranging that the troughs of the system shall communicate, at the end remote from the flue, with a sunken way along which a motor or like refuse-collecting vehicle can travel, the troughs being' ot a width to enable the vehicle to turn into and traverse the same scooping up the residue of the treated refuse as it proceeds, it being understood that the trough at this time is uncovered and the grates therein removed.

These and other objects will appear from the description now about to be given with the aid of the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a vertical section and Fig. 2 a plan of part of a plant comprising four troughs. Fig. 3 is a view to a larger scale of part of Fig. 1 showing one trough and Fig. 4 is a section taken lengthwise of the trough of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of a modilication.

In the example shown in Figs. 1 to 4L, a series of four troughs 1 are employed, arranged parallel to one another beneath the level of the ground 2. Each trough has vertical sides 3 surmounted by copings of suitable material instanced as angle irons 4 forming ledges or guides whereon may be loosely rested covers 5 of metal and concrete rails 6, it being possible to slide these covers 5 along the ledges or guides l and pack them one upon another. 7 4represents the grates resting removably upon ledges S. The ducts for supplying air to the space beneath the grates are shown as pipes Q8 extending vertically downward from between the anglo irons et and rails 6 to the required depth and then diverted elbow fashion laterally, indicated at 9. The several troughs 1 communicate through openings at 10 with a flue 11 shown as equipped intermediate oit its length with a chimney 12 or equivalent smoke withdrawing means. To regulate the draught, damper-s 13 may be provided. 14 represents the sunken way from which the several troughs 1 extend and along which the vehicle, such as 15, Fig. el may conveniently risc to ground level in the vicinity of an inclined ramp 16 terminating in a plateau 17 upon which the vehicle 15 can come to rest as in Fig. 2, preparatory to discharging its contents to the requisite grading means indicated at 18 as a igging screen with hopper 19 above a vehicle 20.

In Fig. 5 a modification is shown according to which covers 5tL are hinged to one of the copings 4a so that they can be turned out of the way when trough is to be charged or cleared.

The refuse may be subjected'to combustion in this improved apparatus in various ways being either dumpedtherein without any preliminary sorting or arranged in strata the lower oi' which consists of bulky elements such as tins, which will by their form tend to promote combustion, an intermediate strata of refuse from which material of value is to be obtained as a result of the combustion being then arranged on top of the lirst strata to be followed by a final strata of ashes or like material to damp or delay the combustion.

lVhat I claim is 1. Refuse-treating apparatus, comprising a trough system, gra-tes in the troughs whereon refuse can be dumped, covers whereby the troughs can be closed after refuse has been dumped therein, a flue between which and the troughs communication is established above the grates, and ducts whereby air is conducted downwardly to the troughs beneath the grates in order to enable combustion of the refuse to be supported.

2. Refuse-treating apparatus, comprising a trough system extending below ground level, grates removably supported in the troughs whereon refuse can be dumped and burnt, and a sunken way with which the troughs communicate, said sunken way permitting of vehicular transit into and from K the troughs, after removal of the grates, for Collection of the burnt residue.

8. Refuse-treating apparatus, Comprising a horizontal lilue below ground level, a sunken way for vehicles parallel thereto, a series of troughs extending between the sunken way and iiue, removable grates supported in the troughs, said troughs communicating with the flue above the grate level, means for temporarily Covering the troughs and means for introducing air to the troughs below the grate level at various points in the length thereof.

4. ln refuse-treating apparatus of the kind herein referred to, a below-ground trough having vertical sides, copings surmounting said sides forming horizontal guides, covers adapted to rest loosely upon the guides and to slide therealong, grates removably supported at a height above the bottom of the trough and air ducts extending vertically downward from the ground level to below the grate level and diverted elbow fashion laterally at this point to discharge into the trough.

Signed at 26 Marlborough Place, Brighton, this sixth day of September, 1928.

FRANCIS CHARLES EVANS. 

